Modern Yet Traditional!” – 9ice Opens Up On Why He’ll Tattoo A Tribal Mark At 50

Popular Nigerian musician Abolore Adegbola Akande, widely known as 9ice, has revealed plans to get a tribal mark in celebration of his 50th birthday.

The award-winning artist, famed for his deep Yoruba lyrics, proverbial storytelling, and distinctive vocal style, made the revelation in a video shared on his TikTok page.

The 45-year-old singer explained that the decision was inspired by his father, who also bears a tribal mark.

“By the time I’m 50, I will get the same mark as my dad. That’s what I want to do for my birthday. A lot of my boys said I won’t do that, but you’ll see,” he said.

9ice rose to fame in 2008 with his breakout hit ‘Gongo Aso’ and has since released several successful albums and singles that have cemented his place in Nigeria’s music history.

Meanwhile, the singer recently shared details of a spiritual ordeal that nearly cost him his life. Speaking on The Nancy Isime Show, 9ice recounted how he vomited blood for six months between 2009 and 2010 — an experience he described as a spiritual attack rather than a medical condition.

When asked about spiritual challenges in his career, he said:

“I was vomiting blood for about six months in my own house. I had to leave my house. It wasn’t a medical condition.”

The singer revealed that medical treatments failed to resolve the situation until he turned to Ifa, the traditional Yoruba system of divination, which eventually restored his health.

Describing his spiritual journey, 9ice emphasized that he no longer identifies with mainstream religions but instead considers himself a traditionalist deeply connected to Yoruba spirituality and culture.